The Operations of 1864

In January 1864, the regiment were badly scattered, doing guard duty. The headquarters of the regiment were at Warrensburg, where two companies, L and M, were stationed. Company A was at Waverly, B at Calhoun, C at Chapel Hill, D at Kingsville, E at Germantown, F at Wellington, G and H at Lexington, I at Hopewell, and K at Osceola. Their principal business was guard duty and scouting, and this continued during January and February.

In January 1864, the regiment were badly scattered, doing guard duty. The headquarters of the regiment were at Warrensburg, where two companies, L and M, were stationed. Company A was at Waverly, B at Calhoun, C at Chapel Hill, D at Kingsville, E at Germantown, F at Wellington, G and H at Lexington, I at Hopewell, and K at Osceola. Their principal business was guard duty and scouting, and this continued during January and February.

In April, Lieutenant Triplett, with forty men of Company D, broke up a camp of guerrillas in Johnson County and captured from them an elegant regimental banner of the Fifth Infantry, Indiana Volunteers.

In May, Companies A, C and L were stationed at Warrensburg; B, E and K at Germantown; D and M at Holden; and F, G, H and I, under Captain Burris, were in the field in the western part of Lafayette County. Scouting and fighting the guerrillas continued until July, when the headquarters of the regiment were moved from Warrensburg to Mound Prairie, Lafayette County, July 14, and from there to Lexington on the 19th.

In the latter part of July, Lieutenant-Colonel Lazear was ordered to assume command of the regiment and operations in Lafayette and Saline counties, relieving Colonel McFerran. Colonel Lazear continued to operate in this district with his command until the 16th of September, when Colonel McFerran again assumed command. During this period the headquarters of the regiment were in the field.

On September 17th, Major Mullins, with one battalion, then in the field in Lafayette County, was ordered to proceed to Saline County and take command in that county, with headquarters at Marshall. The headquarters of the regiment in the meantime were established at the Little Snibar, Lafayete County.

Not long after this the regiment was sent first to Sedalia and then to Jefferson, finally arriving at the latter place in October 1864. The regiment was connected with the first brigade and while with it was engaged in the battles of Big Blue, Independence and Osage. The regiment was at Fort Scott on the 26th of October, when it was detailed to escort to Warrensburg the prisoners and artillery captured from the rebels by the brigade, and November first they made their headquarters for the winter at Warrensburg.

On the 1st of January, 1865, the regiment was stationed in the Central District of Missouri and was engaged in exterminating the band of guerrillas that infested that region of the country, and performing guard and escort duty, until mustered out.

It will be seen that the First Regiment was kept pretty busy during the time of the “great unpleasantness,” and with the exception of an occasional resignation, wounds and sickness, the companies from Daviess County were constantly in the field, their scope of duty being confined to Missouri. They had, therefore, no chance to distinguish themselves by participating in the many memorable battles on Southern soil, but they performed the duties assigned to them with zeal and deserved well of their country.

Company A

This company was mustered into service February 3, 1862, at Gallatin, Missouri, by Capt. T.B. Biggers. The company was commanded by Captain Joseph H. McGee of Gallatin, First Lieutenant Merdith Morris of Pattonsburg, and Second Lieutenant McClain Wilson of Monroe Township. Their commissions all bear date from February 3, 1862. One year and two months from the last date, April 3, 1863, Joseph McGee was promoted to major; March 26, 1863, Merdith Morris succeeded him as captain of the company, Benton Miller as first lieutenant, and McClain Wilson still holding his position of second lieutenant. Of these officers, Captain Morris was dismissed April 26, 1864; First Lieutenant Miller was mustered out February 11, 1865, having served out his term; and McClain Wilson resigned April 23, 1864.

Roll of Company A

Company A belonged to the first regiment of cavalry, Missouri State Militia. The roll of privates and non-commissioned officers is here given. A noble band who did their duty in the Union cause:

The first action this company was engaged in was fought at Kirksville, in Adair County, August 6, 1862. Two days after, August 8, they again met the enemy at Panther Creek, Macon County, and following them up, a short engagement ensued on Walnut Creek, and at Seaford the next day. On the 13th of August, four days after, they fought their next battle with Poindexter. This is the record of the first movements of this regiment. None were killed, but several wounded, among whom were William R. Dutcher, private, and David E. Youtsey, second sergeant, both of Gallatin.

Company G

Company G was organized March 27, 1862, with John Ballinger as captain, who ranked as such from March 16th of that year. The original roll of the company could not be found, but the roll of the company when mustered out was preserved by Lieutenant David Groomer and kindly furnished, and from which was taken the names of those who lived to return to their homes. Those who died from exposure or were killed in battle filled a soldier’s grave, and the memory of them will ever remain green. Time may lessen the violence of grief, but memory ever keeps her vigils, and as the one softens with passing years, the other ever rises bright and glorious, and with hope as its beacon light, holds fast until death.

James, John, died May 12, 1862, at Gallatin.
Clevinger, Pitman A., died April 5, 1862, at Gallatin.
Place, Peter, died May 6, 1862, at Gallatin.
Gillihan, Benona H., died July 14, 1862, at Chillicothe.
Fitts, George W., died August 19, 1862, at Chillicothe.
Orr, Patrick M., died November 8, 1864, at Jefferson City.
Pennington, William J., died November 21, 1864, at Warrensburg.